Bridle-bit rein-ring.



N0. 628,!!4. Patented July 4, I899. P. PETERSON.

BRIDLE BIT REIN RING.

(Application filed Mar. 11, 1899.)

No Model.)

UNITED STATES PETER PETERSON,

PATENT. OFFICE.

or EEELs, IOWA.

BRIDLE-BlTRElN-RING.

SPECIFICATION forming, part of Letters Patent No. 628,114, dated July 4, 1899.

Application filed March 11, 1899.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, PETER PETERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reels, in the county of Pottawattamie and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Bits; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention appertains to bridle-bits, and most especially to the rings at the ends of the mouthpiece, whereby the reins or driv-' ing-lines can be attached to or removed there from, and whereby the straps comprising parts of the bridle, such as the headstall and overdraw, maintain a fixed relation with reference to each other and to the mouthpiece and lines.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and the several views of the accompanying drawings, in which like and corresponding parts are indicated and referred to by the same reference characters.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a fragmentary view of a bridle, illustrating the invention in applied relation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bit-ring. Fig. 3 is a detail section, the dotted lines showing the manner of operating the latch. Fig. at is arear view. Fig. 5 is a section on the line X X of Fig. 4.

The mouthpiece 1, headstall 2, overdraw 3, and driving-rein 4 are well-known parts of a harness-bridle and are shown in connection with the bit-ring 5 to illustrate the application of the invention. It is to be understood that a ring 5 will be provided at each end of the bit or mouthpiece.

The part generally known as the bit-ring is indicated by the reference-numeral 5, and is a loop of substantially D form, with its straight side rearmost. A cross-bar 6 forms a chord which subtendsthe arc of the circle formed by the upper portion of the ring. A vertical bar 7 subdivides the space formed between the horizontal bar 6 and the adjacent Serial No. 708,704.. on model.)

portion of the ring into independent loops 8 and 9, which receive the straps 2 and 3. The ring is supported in an eye provided at the end of the bit in the usual manner. A hook 10 is formed with the ring and is located about midway of the straight side 12. A mortise 13 is formed in the straight side 12, and a latch 14 is pivoted therein and extends across the space leading into the throat of the hook. This latch is gravity-operating and is supported by engagement with the lower wall of the mortise 13 and is adapted to fold into a recess 15 formed in the inner side of the shank of the hook and forming an extension of the mortise 13. The butt-'end'of the latch 11 is rounded and projects slightly beyond the in nor face of the side 12, so as to be engaged by the thumb or finger of the hand when it is required to turn the latch aside to admit of the rein being detached from the hook 10. The latch folds into the recess 15, so as not to obstruct the passage of the loop 16 at the end of the line 4. The end portions of the straight side '12 recede on outwardly-convergent lines, the upper portion merging into the hook 10 and the lower portion connecting with the lower end of a guard 17, inclosing the hook on three sides. This guard is a flange outwardly flaring and its sides tapering or sloping upwardly and forwardly. The loop 16 plays on the edge of the guard-flange 17 and is held away from the latch 14 when under strain. The guard shields the end of the hook and latch and prevents injurious contact of these parts with the animal. The bitring, bars 6 and 7, hook 10, and guard 17 are integrally formed, being cast. The latch is separate and pivoted to the ring within the mortise in the manner set forth.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A bit-ring for bridles having an offstanding portion recurved at its free end forming a hook wholly in the plane of the ring and having an opening in the body of the ring adjacent to the base of the hook, and a latch pivoted in said opening with its butt-endprojecting beyond the inner side of the ring to be engaged by the-finger for operation, said latch operating in the plane of the ring and closing the space between the ring and terminal of the hook, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described ring for bridle-bits consisting of a loop of approximately D form having its upper portion subdivided by horizontal and vertical bars into two loops and having its straight side formed medially with a transverse opening, a hook in the plane of the ring and extending outward from its straight side at one end of the transverse opening and terminating about in line with the opposite end of the said opening, a guard consisting of a flange outwardly flaring and inclosing the hook and transverse opening on three sides and spaced from said hook and having its side portions tapering toward their 

